<span style="color: #222222;">US Defence Secretary Mark Esper today alleged that China and Russia are deliberately building up and modernising their armed forces to challenge the US and enable their geopolitical aspirations. <br />'' <br />'' Speaking at a press conference in Washington Esper also said, China is engaging in a deliberate strategy to undermine the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. <br />'' <br />'' At the same time, he said, regional adversaries like Iran and North Korea continue to promote instability. <br />'' <br />''<br />''Asserting that Indo-Pacific region is a priority for the Trump administration, Esper said last month he travelled to the region to demonstrate his commitment to US allies and partners in the region. </span><br />